According to Daily Mail, West Bromwich Albion might be forced to offload Nathan Ferguson in January to avoid losing him for a cut-price in the summer. It is believed that Ferguson could depart for as low as £300k after the end of the season. As a result, Tottenham Hotspur are already keeping close tabs on the defender’s current situation through the Lilywhites could face stiff competition from Crystal Palace.
Ferguson’s breakout at West Brom
Ferguson was promoted to the West Brom senior side in the summer following his impressive performances in the youth division. And the centre-back has been quick to make an impact, having already made 13 league appearances so far this season.
Ferguson has mostly been utilised as a fullback and not in his preferred role at centre-back. He has often been preferred ahead of Kieran Gibbs and Darnell Furlong. His contributions at the back have helped West Brom experience a perfect start to the campaign. The Baggies are currently leading the Championship table, having already accumulated 33 points in 16 matches.
However, Ferguson’s current contract at West Brom expires at the end of the season. And with the January transfer window just around the corner, a move away from the club could be on the horizon.
What can he bring to the table?
The fact that Slaven Bilic has utilised Ferguson in different positions highlights the player’s versatility at the back. Indeed, the 19-year-old can feature on both flanks, aside from his preferred centre-back role.
Furthermore, the youngster is quite successful in the air, despite boasting a short 178cm frame. He has won 1.8 aerial duels per game with a success rate of 64%. He also attains a tackles success rate of 75% despite averaging a considerable 3.2 tackles per game. These statistics indicate Ferguson’s doggedness at the back and his overall quality as a defender.
But most importantly, the West Brom star can also play out from the back. He has decent awareness which allows him to distribution possession without taking any risks, thus making him a well-rounded defender.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
Is Ferguson a viable target for Spurs?
Spurs should go all out for Ferguson in the upcoming January transfer window. The defender has already shown his quality in the Championship this season and is ready to take the next step in his career.
At Tottenham, Ferguson can provide some much-needed competition for the likes of Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth. He can be considered as a potential long-term replacement for either Toby Alderweireld or Jan Vertonghen. And the fact that the youngster can feature as a fullback means he can also serve as an alternative for the likes of Serge Aurier and Kyle Walker-Peters at right-back.
